Training for a shorter Tri

I bow in awe to all those who are Ironman's or training to do one this year, but I'm afraid that's not going to be me this year!

However, I do want to do 'something' so have been lurking on this forum for several months now summoning up the courage to jump in.

I'm 35, mother of four little girls and have been running for a year and do about 18miles a week. I swim 35-40 lengths once a week but my biking has only been around town on a 3 gear sit-up-and-beg bike with my 3yr old on the back. Not sure that will get me round a tri course .

Have also spent the past hour looking up training schedules and am now feeling rather nervous and excited in equal measure. I've signed up for a short duathlon in March and a sprint tri in May and hope to do an Oly in July.

Hope there are some other folk out there who will join me on this thread and share their goals, tips, ideas, training and sucesses.

welcome aboard. Sounds like it is all there. Run, Swim and even bike. Remove toddler from child seat and even the 3-speed will go a lot faster.

18 miles a week seems like you have a good traning base to work towards the shorter distance stuff. I will take a stab in the dark and predict you would make it round tomorrow (if not for the fact that you have four packed lunches, four school runs, four sets of homework and some baking for a cake sale to do).

You can always improve, but you're at least covering all the disciplines and as meface said you could probably knock out a sprint tomorrow just on the base training you've done and some race day adrenaline. A lot of us juggle kids, jobs, and all manner of non-tri issues just to get to the start line, so it ain't easy but it certainly isn't impossible. There's a good many Pirates of the female persuasion who are also Mums, so you're in good company here for support and advice. I've been doing this for years and am still clueless, so that doesn't need to be an impediment either

Thanks so much for your replies and help - have looked up the PSOF site and will read through the info.

I'm not particularly looking for great speed. I regard myself as a 'steady runner' (my 5k PB is 28:25) and the same with swimming too I guess. Shall see what happens with my cycling over the next few months. My aim is to complete the tri's and still be half alive at the end.

It has been encouraging to read on this forum of so many mums with young kids who also do tri's including ironman! I don't have any friends who run let alone cycle and swim too so I admit I am relying on this site for info and encouragement. My hubby is great and does a little bit of cycling as long as it's flat and ends at a pub or coffee shop, but he's not sporty. Have been getting a few tips from KittenKat by e-mail too. Thanks KK.

SuperCaz - I've signed up for the Tri Nations at Windsor on 7th May. My hubby is a Rev so Sundays are pretty busy and so i look for Saturday events. Having said that, if I do sign up for the Eastnor Oly in July we are taking the weekend as holiday to camp and play.

Hi SteadyCJ - please do join in. Hope you are feeling better soon! I'm hoping to get a few on here to cheer each other on.

My really exciting news is that I got a new bike this afternoon. A hybrid with gears so hopefully I shall be able to cycle up the hills instead of walking. Am in love with it already.

CB - I've seen many and varied excuses/reasons for not being able to train on specific days/times, but have to say you may be unique hereabouts in being married to a Rev. Don't worry, we'll sort him out and have him in lycra in no time

Mmmm, was going to do the Eastnor Oly tri in July but just found out that has been cancelled. So i guess I'll have to find another one. Was kind of banking on the Pirate support team to keep me going.

Yes, my hubby is a Rev so racing on a Sunday is difficult but that doesn't mean I don't sneak in a training run or ride between sermons!

Loulabell - glad to see you made it over here. I wonder if we can encourage a few others from our running thread?

Went out to play on my new bike today. Tomorrow is my first test. Can I cycle and run both on the same day?

Then I think I really do need to work out a training plan for the duathlon in March.

Cake - was the food that bad? I'm a great cook - very well known for my home baking

SuffolkPunch - i like adventures, but they have to fit round the rest of my family. This is my adventure for 2011. If I like tri's I might do some more, but I have also a strange attraction to ultra running. Very strange since running one of these town based marathons doesn't appeal to me at all.

Actually, what I'm most concerned about is my 8yr old big girl and my 7yr twins deciding they want to do tri's too! Have you any idea how difficult it is to manage a household of 'runners' - not sure I could cope if they decided they were going to be triathletes as well! Haven't got the pennies for one thing.

Chilibean - about a training plan for a duathlon in March, just get some cycling and running in, do a few brick sessions.

I have entered the Portsmouth Triathletes Duathlon in April, but can only walk and ride static bike in garage at the moment due to arm injury (sustained falling over in the ice/snow whilst sober). Hoping that at least the legs and lungs will be ready for it.

Today walked nearly five miles at a fairly brisk pace, tomorrow aim for a 45 min session on bike.

Previously bookmarked threads are now visible in "Followed Threads". You can also manage notifications on these threads from the "Forum Settings" section of your profile settings page to prevent being sent an email when a reply is made.